Total Quality Logistics’ numbers tell the story of a company that’s doing a lot of things right:

Two decades after its founding, it stands as the second-largest freight logistics company in the United States.

It carried more than 1.3 million loads of freight last year for sales of $2.3 billion.

It has grown to 4,200 employees in 24 states.

And yet, officials at the Union Township-based company will tell you TQL isn’t the easiest place to work. Bottom line, it’s selling a service by phone in a round-the-clock environment. That isn’t for everyone.

TQL has focused hard on employee engagement as the key to employee satisfaction and, ultimately, company success. It’s all about work hard, play hard. The result: This is the eighth straight year the privately held company has been named a Top Workplace.

“The sales gig at TQL is tough, so we need to have an outlet for our employees to step back and get refreshed,” said Amy Knasel, who oversees TQL’s employee engagement area.

That happens in a number of ways from the individual team level to companywide.

Always something to do

First, TQL knows how to throw an employee event. There are frequent “patio parties” outside the company's headquarters, often involving some kind of competition. “Obviously, everyone is very competitive; that’s why we work here,” Knasel said. TQL, which ranked as the largest company in the 2016 Deloitte Cincinnati USA 100 list of the largest privately held companies in the region, also has five other offices in the Cincinnati area.

Every year, the company has an Easter party and a Christmas party – complete with a bunny and a Santa, respectively – as well as a summer picnic. Last year’s TQL Prom, a year-end celebration, included food stations, a live band, circus performers, games, dancing, selfie stations and TQL-branded Snapchat frames.

Valentine’s week brings an event called Shed the Love, in which homeless dogs and cats from area shelters are brought into the office. In addition to providing a warm and fuzzy break for many employees, the effort resulted in the adoption of more than a dozen pets.

Many events, such as the holiday parties, include families, and others are especially for them.

“We’re 24/7/365, so we want to make sure we’re giving back to our employees’ families, as well,” Knasel said.

That means a lot to new mom LeeAnn Ryan, TQL’s military recruiter.

“I appreciate the things they do for our families – things like seminars for new parents, and a Kids Club so our kids know they’re a part of the TQL family, too,” she said.

Employees have input on events, with surveys after each one used to shape future programs. Along with the many company-organized events, each team has its own engagement budget.

It’s fair to say TQL is serious about fun.

Events don’t quite happen every day, though, so for the lulls between working and partying, TQL offers a number of other amenities. They include a basketball court, a running track around the building, ping-pong tables and cornhole games.

There’s a cafeteria on site, and even a small, company-run convenience shop. Food trucks are scheduled regularly based on employees' preferences.

Helping employees give back

None of the above events or amenities, however, ranks as employees’ favorite company-sponsored activity. That honor falls to TQL Cares, the company’s philanthropic program, with 73 percent of employees contributing time and/or money.

TQL Cares put more than $1.6 million in the coffers of community charities last year, with their Loads for a Cure fundraiser pulling in $29,187 for breast cancer research and Hauls for Heroes amassing $27,029 for veteran-related groups.

Employees are generous with their time, as well: A volunteer week held the last week in April brought out more than 600 employees and family members, according to Colleen Berliner, a TQL spokeswoman.

Often at TQL, having fun, being a team and helping a good cause all come together, as with the attempt to set a Guinness record for most simultaneous situps as a fundraiser for Hauls for Heroes.